Methods and apparatus for print control of moving a position of a non-print area

ABSTRACT

In a case where a digital still camera and a printer are connected to each other and marginless printing of an image stored on a memory card provided in the digital still camera is performed on a recording paper, a non-print area of the image not to be printed on the recording paper is displayed on a display of the digital still camera on the basis of a difference between an aspect ratio of the image and an aspect ratio of the recording paper, and the displayed non-print area is set to be able to be shifted in arbitrary directions by using an operation unit of the digital still camera.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to print control of moving a position of anon-print area when an image is printed.

2. Related Background Art

Conventionally, there is a line thermal transfer printer which uses aheat sensitive paper as a print paper, selectively drives plural heatingelements arranged in the main scan direction, and performs printing likea dot line on the recording paper by transporting the recording paper inthe sub scan direction.

In recent years, as input equipment such as a digital camera, a digitalvideo camera, a scanner or the like which treats an image advances, aprinter to which a thermal transfer method is applied is paid toattention as a print means.

That is, in an ink-jet printer, there are only binary options, i.e., oneis to discharge ink droplets and the other is not to discharge inkdroplets. Thus, the ink-jet printer intends to obtain apparentresolution and tonality by putting small ink droplets to a recordingpaper as controlling them in a method such as error diffusion method orthe like. On the other hand, in the thermal transfer printer, since acontrollable heat value can be easily changed in one pixel, a greatnumber of tonalities can be set for one pixel. Thus, as compared withthe ink-jet printer, the thermal transfer printer can obtain a smoothand high-quality image.

Moreover, since performance of a thermal head and performance of arecording paper material have been improved significantly, an imageprint of which finish quality does not pale beside that of a silver saltphotograph can be obtained. For these reasons, the thermal transferprinter is paid to attention as a printer for a natural image in syncwith the advancement of the digital camera in recent years.

On one hand, in the ink-jet printer, technique to reduce the size of anink-droplet dot has advanced, whereby the printer capable of achievinghigher-resolution printing also appears.

Consequently, for example, as shown in Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-Open No. 10-243327, a system in which such a printer as above isdirectly connected to a photographing apparatus such as a digitalcamera, a digital video camera or the like is proposed. Besides, asshown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-65182, a system inwhich such a printer as above and a photographing apparatus are unifiedso that photographed image information is printed without a computer isalso proposed.

However, in these conventional examples, in the case where the imagephotographed by the digital camera is directly printed out by theprinter, when printing of no margin (i.e., marginless printing) isintended, this printing can be satisfactorily performed if an aspectratio of a recording paper is the same as that of the image to beprinted. On the other hand, if the aspect ratio of the recording paperis different from that of the image, it is necessary to perform theprinting by cutting off a part of the image.

Thus, as a simple method to cope with such a case, there is a method tofix the portion to be cut off. For example, it is thought to decide toevenly cut off the top and bottom portions of the image without failwhen this image is printed out. However, in this case, the top andbottom portions are indiscriminately cut off irrespective of the kindand content of the image, whereby there is possibly a fear that theportion intended to be really printed out is not printed.

Thus, it is intended to achieve a function, such as a function of animage processing application used in a personal computer, capable ofdesignating an arbitrary area of the image on the digital camera.However, in such a case, operation members are limited as the digitalcamera becomes small in size, whereby a trouble that the printer becomesan interface which is complex and difficult for a user occurs.Therefore, there is a problem that the print system which is easy to beused for the user can not be provided in the conventional apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a print control methodand an image pickup apparatus capable of performing a print instruction,by which above-mentioned problems are dissolved.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a print controlmethod and an image pickup apparatus capable of performing a printinstruction, by which a user on the side of the image pickup apparatuscan easily designate an area not to be printed on a recording paper.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing explanation based on the attached drawings and the appendedclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a recordingapparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining an operation according to theembodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a recording paper according tothe embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of a printsystem according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of animage pickup apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example that the relation of an image anda print area according to the embodiment is displayed on a camera (theimage is portrait);

FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C are diagrams showing an example that the print areais shifted (the image is portrait);

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example that the relation of the imageand the print area according to the embodiment is displayed on thecamera (the image is landscape); and

FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C are diagrams showing an example that the print areais shifted (the image is landscape).

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the embodiment of the present invention will be explainedwith reference to the accompanying drawings.

That is, a print system according to the embodiment will be explainedwith reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. The print system in the embodimentadopts a sublimation-type thermal transfer recording method for aprinter unit and thus can print out electronic image information by adesired number of prints. Then, the print system will be explainedaccording to a procedure. Incidentally, it should be noted that anink-jet recording method or an electrophotographic recording method maybe adopted for the printer unit.

Hereinafter, an example of an ordinary thermal transfer recordingapparatus according to the embodiment will be concretely explained withreference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross section diagram showing the structure of therecording apparatus according to the embodiment. First, the entirestructure of the recording apparatus will be explained.

A recording paper P is separated, fed and transported one by one from arecording paper cassette 2 by a paper feeding roller 3.

Then, the recording paper P transported by the paper feeding roller 3 isnipped and transported by a pair of transportation rollers 4, wherebythe recording paper P can be reciprocated in the recording unit. Here,it should be noted that the pair of transportation rollers 4 consist ofa pinch roller 42 and a grip roller 41.

In the recording unit, a platen roller 5 and a thermal head 6 forgenerating heat according to recording information are opposite to eachother through a recording paper transportation path. An ink sheet 8 heldin an ink cassette 7 is pressed to the recording paper P and selectivelyheated by the thermal head 6, whereby a predetermined image istransferred and recorded onto the recording paper P, and also aprotection layer is overcoated. Here, it should be noted that the inksheet 8 includes an ink layer on which a heat melting ink or a heatsublimation ink has been applied, and also an overcoat layer that is tobe overcoated on the printed face to protect it.

On the ink sheet 8, a yellow (Y) ink layer, a magenta (M) ink layer, acyan (C) ink layer and an overcoat protection (OP) layer having the sizesubstantially equivalent to a printing area size of the recording paperP are disposed. Thus, the ink of one layer is thermally transferred tothe recording paper P, the recording paper P is returned to therecording start position, and the ink of another layer is then thermallytransferred to the recording paper P. This operation is repeated for allthe layers, whereby the respective inks are sequentially recoated on therecording paper P. In other words, by the pair of transportation rollers4, the recording paper P is reciprocated the number of timescorresponding to the number of ink and overcoat layers.

After the printing of each ink layer ended, the recording paper P isguided to first paper discharge rollers 9-1 and then to second paperdischarge rollers 9-2. Thus, the recording paper P is discharged fromthe rear of a main body 1 of the apparatus toward the front thereof, andthe recording operation ends.

Since the ordinary thermal transfer recording apparatus records imagesof Y, M and C three colors by three-time plane sequential recording,control is necessary to accurately register the leading edges of therecordings of the respective colors. For this purpose, it is necessaryto firmly nip and transport the recording paper P by the pair oftransportation rollers 4 shown in FIG. 1, whereby an unrecordable marginportion becomes necessary at the end of the recording paper P along thetransportation direction.

On the ground of such a situation, in order to finally obtain a printedmaterial having no margin easily, as shown in FIG. 3, perforations 9 and12 are provided on the recording paper P so that a margin portion 16 onwhich any recording is impossible because it is firmly nipped by thepair of transportation rollers 4 can be manually cut off easily. Here,it is assumed that the embodiment is achieved by the recording paper Phaving the above perforations and the thermal transfer recordingapparatus, and the perforation provided on the recording paper P isovercoated by the overcoat layer.

An area 17 indicated by the oblique lines shown in FIG. 3 is a printingarea, and it is controlled that the printing is performed to theprinting area including the perforations. Moreover, it is controlledthat the overcoat layer is printed on the area on which the printing issubstantially performed and which is slightly wider than the printingarea.

Then, a color ink transfer and overcoating sequence will be explainedwith reference to a flow chart shown in FIG. 2.

First, in a first step S1, a print instruction is generated from anot-shown print button, a digital camera or a digital video camera by auser to designate a print target image and instruct a print operation ofthe print target image.

Next, in a step S2, a processing circuit 18 provided inside the mainbody 1 of the apparatus starts communication with the apparatus whichhas executed the print instruction. Then, the processing circuit 18confirms various conditions necessary for the printing and informed bythe apparatus which has executed the print instruction, and furtherperforms if needed an image conversion process to convert the imageinformation into print information.

Next, in a step S3, if the preparation for the printing ends, a controlmeans (not shown) drives a motor connected to the paper feeding roller 3and thus starts feeding the recording paper P. Then, in a step S4, ifthe leading edge of the recording paper P is detected, the control meansrotates a stepping motor by predetermined steps to start printing theimage. At this time, it is assumed that the image print start positionis 12.465 mm based on the leading edge of the recording paper.

Consecutively, in a step S5, as the stepping motor is rotated by foursteps, the printing of one line is performed by thermally driving thethermal head. In the embodiment, the stepping motor is rotated by 6,776steps (corresponding to 1,694 lines) in total, and then the imageprinting ends. The image print end position at this time is 156.455 mmbased on the leading edge of the recording paper.

Next, in a step S6, the stepping motor is rotated by 10 lines(corresponding to 40 steps) for deceleration until the motor stops,whereby the image printing stops. Next, in a step S7, from thissituation, the stepping motor is reversely rotated to transport therecording paper P in the direction opposite to the direction in theimage printing. Then, the stepping motor is returned by thepredetermined number of steps (6,776 steps corresponding to thedeceleration), and further rotated by the predetermined number of lines,i.e., 10 lines (corresponding to 40 steps) for further deceleration.After then, the stepping motor is stopped.

Next, in a step S8, the above operation is repeated three times for Y, Mand C three colors, and it is then judged whether or not the desiredprinting image is transferred and printed on the recording paper P. Ifjudged that the printing images of Y, M and C three colors are not yettransferred and printed on the recording paper P, the above processes inand after the step S4 are repeated. On the other hand, if judged in thestep S8 that the printing images of Y, M and C three colors have beentransferred and printed, then the flow advances to a step S9 to transferthe overcoat layer once to protect the printed face.

After then, in a step S10, the stepping motor is reversely driven toguide the recording paper P to the second paper discharge rollers 9-2,the guided recording paper P is discharged by the driving of the secondpaper discharge rollers 9-2, and a series of operations ends.

In the above operation, when the recording paper P is fed, the controlmeans first controls the number of steps of the stepping motor on thebasis of a leading edge detection signal of the recording paper Pdetected and supplied from a recording paper leading edge sensor 10.Then, when the entire image is printed, the control means furthercontrols the number of steps of the stepping motor on the basis of thepositional relation of the recording paper P in the transportation. As aresult, the control means administrates the recording position.

However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, when theY, M and C color ink layers and the overcoat layer are transferred andrecorded, the control means may detect the leading edge of the recordingpaper by providing a sensor at the leading edge of the recording paper,administrate the number of steps of rotation driving of the steppingmotor based on such a detected signal, and thus administrate therecording position.

In the above description, the overcoat layer is transferred by onlyturning on and off the thermal driving of the thermal head. However, itis possible to control a heat value to gradually increase when thetransfer of the overcoat layer starts, and to gradually decrease whenthe transfer of the overcoat layer ends.

Hereinafter, the apparatus for performing the print instruction in thestep S2 and the communication by the print apparatus will be explainedin detail. Here, a case where a digital camera DC performs the printinstruction will be explained by way of example.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of the printsystem that the digital camera DC and the main body 1 of the printapparatus are connected to each other.

Here, it is assumed that the image information obtained after thedigital camera DC performs photographing is stored in a memory providedinside the digital camera DC. The memory may be a detachable memory suchas CompactFlash (R) card, a smart media or the like. Moreover, it isassumed that a mode of the digital camera DC is set to reproduce anarbitrary image.

Since reproduction of the image information can be confirmed at any timeon a liquid crystal display of the digital camera DC, a user canarbitrary fetches favorite photographed image information from thememory by using the operation unit of the digital camera DC. Here, ifthe digital camera DC is in the state capable of communicating with themain body 1 of the print apparatus through a cable 27 or a wirelessmeans (not shown), the information necessary to perform a printoperation is communicated from the digital camera DC to the printapparatus by using a predetermined print execution button (not shown)provided on the digital camera DC, whereby a print output can beobtained from the main body 1 of the print apparatus.

Here, information of negotiation between the digital camera DC and themain body 1 of the print apparatus, information representing an imagesent from the digital camera DC and to be printed by the printapparatus, information added to the image information when or after therecording is performed, and the like can be applied as the informationnecessary to perform the print operation.

Here, the contents relative to the embodiment will be further explainedin detail.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of thedigital camera DC. In FIG. 5, numeral 51 denotes an image pickup systemwhich is used to the photographing, numeral 52 denotes a control CPU,numeral 53 denotes a working memory, numeral 54 denotes JPEG (JointPhotographic Experts Group) decompression hardware which is used toperform JPEG decompression, numeral 55 denotes a USB I/F (UniversalSerial Bus Interface), numeral 56 denotes an image recording medium suchas CompactFlash (R) or the like, numeral 57 denotes a display whichdisplays an image, and numeral 58 denotes an operation unit which isused to issue various instructions. The digital camera DC that containsthese structural components is connected to the print apparatus throughthe USB I/F 55.

Then, a case of actually printing the image will be explained.

Here, it is assumed that the image data to be printed has beenpreviously stored in the image recording medium 56. First, the CPU 52reads out a print-target JPEG image selected from the image recordingmedium 56 on the basis of the user's operation on the operation unit 58,expands the read-out image data on the working memory 53, and thencauses the display 57 to display the image based on the expanded imagedata.

Next, if a print mode is selected, the CPU 52 indicates an addressS#ADR0 of the data to be decompressed and the size thereof, an addressS#ADR1 of the location on which the decompressed data is to be stored,and the like to the JPEG decompression hardware 54, and then instructsthe JPEG decompression hardware 54 to actually start the decompressionof the image data. The JPEG decompression hardware 54 performs the JPEGdecompression, and then notifies the CPU 52 of the end of thedecompression. Subsequently, the CPU 52 that received such anotification reads out the longitudinal and lateral sizes of thedecompressed data from the JPEG decompression hardware 54, and thenstores the read-out sizes on the working memory 53.

Next, the CPU 52 calculates an aspect ratio on the basis of thelongitudinal and lateral sizes of the image, and then compares thecalculated aspect ratio with an aspect ratio of the recording paper tobe used for printing that image. Here, it should be noted that thelongitudinal and lateral sizes of the selected image may be detected byusing pixel number information included in header information of theJPEG image data, and the size of the recording paper may be obtainedfrom the printer or determined on the side of the digital camera.

Moreover, it is assumed that the longitudinal size of the image is Gh,the lateral size of the image is Gw, the longitudinal size of the printrecording paper is Ph, and the lateral size of the print recording paperis Pw. Then, in a case where Gh/Gw>Ph/Pw, in order to perform printingof no margin (marginless printing), the image data is output so that thelateral size of the image is enlarged or reduced in conformity with thewidth of the print recording paper.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example that the relation of the imageand the print area is displayed on the display 57 of the camera. In FIG.6, hatching portions NPA indicate non-print areas which are cut offwithout any printing, and another portion PA indicates a printable area.In the embodiment, the printable area can be shifted by using the keysprovided on the operation unit 58. As the key provided on the operationunit 58, even if it is impossible to use a cruciform key capable ofarbitrary designating the up, down, right and left directions, it ispossible to use a key capable of designating only the up and downdirections or only the right and left directions. In the embodiment, itis assumed that the left button and the right button are provided on theoperation unit 58.

FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C are diagrams showing the condition that theprintable area is shifted by user's key operations.

Here, it is assumed that the position of the printable area PA is firstin the state of FIG. 7B. In this state, the position of the printablearea PA changes to the position being in the state shown of FIG. 7A ifthe left button is depressed, while the position of the printable areaPA changes to the position being in the state of FIG. 7C if the rightbutton is depressed. That is, the printable area PA shifts by apredetermined amount every time the left button or the right button isdepressed, and the printable area PA continuously shifts if the userkeeps depressing the button.

On the other hand, in a case where Gh/Gw<Ph/Pw, in order to perform theprinting of no margin (marginless printing), the image data is output sothat the longitudinal size of the image conforms with the height of theprint recording paper.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example that the relation of the imageand the print area is displayed on the display 57 of the camera. Incommon with FIG. 6, the hatching portions NPA of FIG. 8 indicate thenon-print areas that are cut off without any printing, and the portionPA of FIG. 8 indicates the printable area. Also in this case, it isassumed that the left button and the right button are provided on theoperation unit 58.

FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C are diagrams showing the condition that theprintable area is shifted by user's key operations.

Here, it is assumed that the position of the printable area PA is firstin the state of FIG. 9B. In this state, the position of the printablearea PA changes to the position being in the state shown of FIG. 9A ifthe left button is depressed, while the position of the printable areaPA changes to the position being in the state of FIG. 9C if the rightbutton is depressed. That is, the printable area PA shifts by apredetermined amount every time the left button or the right button isdepressed, and the printable area PA continuously shifts if the userkeeps depressing the button. The user sets the print area by the aboveoperation, and then instructs the printer to start the printing to beable to obtain a desired printed material.

As explained above, in case of performing the printing of no margin(marginless printing), the area (non-print area) of the image that isnot printed occurs due to the difference between the aspect ratio of theimage and the aspect ratio of the recording paper. However, according tothe embodiment, the function to display the non-print area on the camerais provided, and also the function to shift the non-print area by theoperation member on the side of the camera is provided, whereby it ispossible to select the print area intended by the user and then actuallyprint the selected area by an easy operation.

Here, it should be noted that the present invention is not limited onlyto the marginless printing but is applicable to printing with margin(i.e., margin printing). That is, in case of performing the marginprinting, the same effect as above can be achieved by comparing theaspect ratio of the substantial print area (i.e., the area from whichthe margin has been excluded) with the aspect ratio of the image.

Moreover, it should be noted that each of the above-explained meansprovided on the image pickup apparatus according to the embodiment iscomposed of a CPU or an MPU (microprocessor unit) of a computer, a RAM,a ROM and the like, whereby the function of each means can be achievedwhen programs stored in the RAM or the ROM operate.

Therefore, the program operating to cause the computer to achieve theabove functions is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, andthe computer reads out the recorded program, whereby the above functionsare actually achieved. As the recording medium for recording theprogram, in addition to the CD-ROM, it is possible to use a flexibledisk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape, a magnetooptical disk, anon-volatile memory card or the like.

Moreover, in addition to the case where the computer executes thesupplied program to achieve the functions of the embodiment, in a casewhere the program cooperates with an OS (operating system) or otherapplication software operating on the computer to achieve the functionsof the embodiment and a case where a function expansion board or afunction expansion unit of the computer executes a part or all of theprocess based on the supplied program to achieve the functions of theembodiment, the programs in these cases are included in the embodimentof the present invention.

Moreover, in order to use the present invention in network environment,a part or all of the program may be executed in another computer. Forexample, an image screen input process may be performed on a remoteterminal computer, and various discrimination, log recording and thelike may be performed on another center computer or the like.

1-9. (canceled)
 10. An image pickup apparatus comprising: an imagepickup portion arranged to convert an optical image of an object to bephotographed into an electrical image signal, thereby generating animage; a non-print area display portion arranged to display, when theimage generated by said image pickup portion is printed onto a recordingpaper, a non-print area so that the non-print area in a case where thelateral size of the image is adjusted to the width of the recordingpaper is displayed recognizably when Gh/Gw is greater than Ph/Pw, andthe non-print area in a case where the longitudinal size of the image isadjusted to the height of the recording paper is displayed recognizablywhen Gh/Gw is less than Ph/Pw, wherein Gh denotes the longitudinal sizeof the image, Gw denotes the lateral size thereof, Ph denotes thelongitudinal size of the recording paper and Pw denotes the lateral sizethereof; and a non-print area shift portion arranged to shift thenon-print area displayed by said non-print area display portion, atleast in one direction of right, left, upper and lower directions. 11.An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said non-print area shiftportion is arranged to shift the non-print area at least in the upperand lower directions when Gh/Gw is greater than Ph/Pw.
 12. An apparatusaccording to claim 10, wherein said non-print area shift portion isarranged to shift the non-print area at least in the right and leftdirections when Gh/Gw is less than Ph/Pw.
 13. An apparatus according toclaim 10, wherein said apparatus is arranged so as to obtain informationof the size of the recording paper from a printer with which saidapparatus communicates directly.
 14. An image pickup method comprising:an image pickup step of converting an optical image of an object to bephotographed into an electrical image signal, thereby generating animage; a non-print area display step of displaying, when the imagegenerated by said image pickup portion is printed onto a recordingpaper, a non-print area so that the non-print area in a case where thelateral size of the image is adjusted to the width of the recordingpaper is displayed recognizably when Gh/Gw is greater than Ph/Pw, andthe non-print area in a case where the longitudinal size of the image isadjusted to the height of the recording paper is displayed recognizablywhen Gh/Gw is less than Ph/Pw, wherein Gh denotes the longitudinal sizeof the image, Gw denotes the lateral size thereof, Ph denotes thelongitudinal size of the recording paper and Pw denotes the lateral sizethereof; and a non-print area shift step, of shifting the non-print areadisplayed in said non-print area display step, at least in one directionof right, left, upper and lower directions.
 15. A method according toclaim 14, wherein said non-print area shift step includes a step, ofshifting the non-print area at least in the upper and lower directionswhen Gh/Gw is greater than Ph/Pw.
 16. A method according to claim 14,wherein said non-print area shift step includes a step of shifting thenon-print area at least in the right and left directions when Gh/Gw isless than Ph/Pw.
 17. A method according to claim 14, further comprisinga step, of obtaining information of the size of the recording paper froma printer through communication directly with the printer.
 18. A programcomprising computer-readable codes for causing a computer to execute theimage pickup method of claim
 14. 19. A storage medium whichcomputer-readably stores a program for causing a computer to execute theimage pickup method of claim
 14. 20. An image processing apparatuscomprising: an input portion arranged to input an image generated by animage pickup apparatus; a non-print area display portion arranged todisplay, when the image input by said input portion is printed onto arecording paper, a non-print area so that the non-print area in a casewhere the lateral size of the image is adjusted to the width of therecording paper is displayed recognizably when Gh/Gw is greater thanPh/Pw, and the non-print area in a case where the longitudinal size ofthe image is adjusted to the height of the recording paper is displayedrecognizably when Gh/Gw is less than Ph/Pw, wherein Gh denotes thelongitudinal size of the image, Gw denotes the lateral size thereof, Phdenotes the longitudinal size of the recording paper and Pw denotes thelateral size thereof; and a non-print area shift portion arranged toshift the non-print area displayed by said non-print area displayportion, in at least one direction of right, left, upper and lowerdirections.
 21. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein saidnon-print area shift portion is arranged to shift the non-print area atleast in the upper and lower directions when Gh/Gw is greater thanPh/Pw.
 22. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said non-printarea shift portion is arranged to shift the non-print area at least inthe right and left directions when Gh/Gw is less than Ph/Pw.
 23. Anapparatus according to claim 20, wherein said apparatus is arranged soas to generate information of the size of the recording paper.
 24. Animage processing method comprising: inputting an image generated by animage pickup apparatus; a non print area display step of displaying,when the image input by said input portion is printed onto a recordingpaper, a non-print area so that the non-print area in a case where thelateral size of the image is adjusted to the width of the recordingpaper is displayed recognizably when Gh/Gw is greater than Ph/Pw, andthe non-print area in a case where the longitudinal size of the image isadjusted to the height of the recording paper is displayed recognizablywhen Gh/Gw is less than Ph/Pw, wherein Gh denotes the longitudinal sizeof the image, Gw denotes the lateral size thereof, Ph denotes thelongitudinal size of the recording paper and Pw denotes the lateral sizethereof; and a non-print area shift step of shifting the non-print areadisplayed in said non-print area display step, in at least one directionof right, left, upper and lower directions.
 25. A method according toclaim 24, wherein said non-print area shift step includes a step, ofshifting the non-print area at least in the upper and lower directionswhen Gh/Gw is greater than Ph/Pw.
 26. A method according to claim 24,wherein said non-print area shift step includes a step, of shifting thenon-print area at least in the right and left directions when Gh/Gw isless than Ph/Pw.
 27. A method according to claim 24, further comprisinga step, of generating information of the size of the recording paper.28. A program comprising computer-readable codes for causing a computerto execute the image processing method of claim
 24. 29. A storage mediumwhich computer-readably stores a program for causing a computer toexecute the image processing method of claim 24.